Undergraduate Admissions
Who Can Apply?
The College welcomes applications in most subjects leading to a BA Honours or a BFA degree (except Archaeology and Anthropology (LV64), Biological Sciences (C100), Experimental Psychology (C830), Geography (L700), History & Economics (LV11), History & Modern Languages (VQ15, VQ17, VR11, VR12, VR13, VR14, VR15, VR17, VRC7), History & Politics (LV21), Human Sciences (BCL0) , Material Sciences (FJ22), MEM (FLN0), Oriental Studies, Philosophy & Theology (VV56), PPP (BCV0) and Theology (V600)). Our applicants are men and women from every kind of school, college, and background, from all parts of the British Isles and overseas. We are happy to consider applications from mature students.
What Are We Looking For?
We are looking for potential as much as, if not more than, achievement, and we are interested in academic merit, rather than other kinds of excellence. We are happy to advise prospective applicants, who should write to the admissions staff.
In interviews the emphasis is on academic questions, rather than on an applicant's other interests. We are looking for commitment to the subject, willingness to work and to learn, ability to develop an argument, and to see more than one side to a problem. But the interview is only one factor in the very difficult job of trying to decide between many excellent candidates who deserve places, and we also take into account GCSE results, written work (where applicable) and the school's report.
Taking a Gap Year
Candidates who indicate on their UCAS form that they wish to take a 'gap' year between school and university are considered sympathetically, especially when their plans are constructive and likely to be beneficial to their development. However, if you don't tell us of your plans to defer entry until after your interview, it is unlikely that we would keep the place open for you for the following year, since you would have excluded someone else from coming to the College in the year in which you no longer wish to come.
Disabled Applicants
We welcome enquiries from disabled persons. Though it would be misleading to suggest that Exeter's older buildings do not pose problems for students with mobility problems, we have successfully provided for students with disabilities in other areas (e.g. cystic fibrosis and partial sight). There are rooms on the main College site and in our hostels that have been specifically adapted for wheelchair and disabled access. We have various contingency plans which can be brought into effect and we regard problems as challenges to be overcome. Please contact the Academic Administrator directly and let us know what your needs are: in most cases we can and will meet them.
Contact Information
International Applicants
The Oxford International Students' Campaign has produced a handbook that covers a variety of topics, ranging from practical necessities such as banking and communication services to the cultural aspects of adjusting to life in the UK.
